High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution via full Core-mode Encoding over Deployed Multicore Fibers
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Quantum Physics arXiv:2606.04211 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 2 Jun 2026] Title:High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution via full Core-mode Encoding over Deployed Multicore Fibers Authors:G. H. dos Santos, K. B. Sawada, N. Villalba, C. Jara, N. Guerrero, C. Melo, M. H. Magiotto, D. Martínez, G. B. Xavier, J. Cariñe, G. Saavedra, E. S. Gómez, S. P. Walborn, G. Lima View a PDF of the paper titled High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution via full Core-mode Encoding over Deployed Multicore Fibers, by G. H. dos Santos and 13 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security rooted in quantum physics, while high-dimensional (HD) encoding increases both noise tolerance and secret-key yield. Multicore fibers (MCFs), a leading platform for next-generation telecom networks, are a natural substrate for HD-QKD. Field demonstrations over deployed MCFs have so far relied on a hybrid qudit encoding strategy that combines two path (core modes) with the time-bin photonic degree of freedom, rather than exploiting the full set of available core modes. Although practical, this approach incurs intrinsic efficiency penalties that grow with dimension. Here we implement a four-dimensional ($d=4$) QKD protocol that directly exploits the full set of core modes of a four-core MCF, operating over an installed MCF network across the Universidad de Concepción campus under continuous environmental perturbations. We further benchmark the scheme using superconducting nanowire detectors at $10\,$dB channel loss, achieving a composable finite-key rate of $R = 6.19\times 10^{-3}\,$bits/pulse, the highest per-pulse rate reported to date for HD-QKD at comparable loss. This result establishes core-mode encoding as a viable architecture for realistic, high-rate quantum-secure communications. Comments: Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph) Cite as: arXiv:2606.04211 [quant-ph] (or arXiv:2606.04211v1 [quant-ph] for this version) https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2606.04211 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration) Submission history From: Esteban S. Gómez [view email] [v1] Tue, 2 Jun 2026 20:58:35 UTC (6,854 KB) Full-text links: Access Paper: View a PDF of the paper titled High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution via full Core-mode Encoding over Deployed Multicore Fibers, by G. H. dos Santos and 13 other authorsView PDFHTML (experimental)TeX Source view license Current browse context: quant-ph new | recent | 2026-06 References & Citations INSPIRE HEP NASA ADSGoogle Scholar Semantic Scholar export BibTeX citation Loading... BibTeX formatted citation × loading... Data provided by: Bookmark Bibliographic Tools Bibliographic and Citation Tools Bibliographic Explorer Toggle Bibliographic Explorer (What is the Explorer?) Connected Papers Toggle Connected Papers (What is Connected Papers?) Litmaps Toggle Litmaps (What is Litmaps?) scite.ai Toggle scite Smart Citations (What are Smart Citations?) Code, Data, Media Code, Data and Media Associated with this Article alphaXiv Toggle alphaXiv (What is alphaXiv?) Links to Code Toggle CatalyzeX Code Finder for Papers (What is CatalyzeX?) DagsHub Toggle DagsHub (What is DagsHub?) GotitPub Toggle Gotit.pub (What is GotitPub?) Huggingface Toggle Hugging Face (What is Huggingface?) ScienceCast Toggle ScienceCast (What is ScienceCast?) Demos Demos Replicate Toggle Replicate (What is Replicate?) Spaces Toggle Hugging Face Spaces (What is Spaces?) Spaces Toggle TXYZ.AI (What is TXYZ.AI?) Related Papers Recommenders and Search Tools Link to Influence Flower Influence Flower (What are Influence Flowers?) Core recommender toggle CORE Recommender (What is CORE?) Author Venue Institution Topic About arXivLabs arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website. Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them. Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs. Which authors of this paper are endorsers? | Disable MathJax (What is MathJax?)